Jeremy Menez Stars in Complete Milan Performance Against Napoli

Not one AC Milan player had a bad game. It was as close to perfect as they’re going to get.

For Napoli, it was quite the opposite. For much of the game, it was unwatchable.

Milan beat Napoli 2-0 on Sunday, without a doubt their biggest win of the season. From back to front, the Rossoneri played with composure. Finally, some balance on the field—and even a rare clean sheet.

Diego Lopez made seven crucial saves. In front of him, the defenders made key tackles. Adil Rami and Philippe Mexes were solid. 

Even more solid was the midfield, which is usually Milan’s weakest area on the pitch. Clearly they are a better team with captain Riccardo Montolivo back in it. 

"

Really enjoyed the midfield. A healthy Montolivo and De Jong together is what this team needs. And how about Diego Lopez! #ForzaMilan -faz

— AC Milan Club NYC (@ACMilanNYC) December 14, 2014"

But the brightest player of this season was even brighter. Jeremy Menez, the frustrating and talented false nine, scored his eighth goal this year.

The 27-year-old Frenchman absolutely shredded Napoli’s already weak defence on several occasions. It wasn’t even a contest: Menez blew past centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly on the first goal and nutmegged Raul Albiol in the second half. 

Sometimes Menez is an absolute waste. Sometimes he runs the ball into a dead end. But other times he uses his pace to great effect, and this time Napoli could not handle him.

"

Zlatan: "For me, Menez is the best French player." https://t.co/nt38vUkmfk

— KICKTV (@KICKTV) December 14, 2014"

That Menez is Milan’s leading goalscorer is not much of a surprise. This is a team thriving on the unconventional. Menez in his truest form is a free-roaming attacking midfielder, even a winger, but coach Pippo Inzaghi has put him in a position to score the goals that Fernando Torres simply cannot. It’s ironic that a team managed by a former striker does not function with a pure centre-forward. 

"Inzaghi has always had faith in me and I have to repay him on the field," Menez told Sky Sport Italia after the match (h/t Football Italia). "I can’t get it wrong or let him down."

Whether Menez will last is another question. But the eight goals he has scored make this season the most prolific of his career. That is worth something, especially from a player that cost nothing on the market.

It’s still hard to fully praise a player that is frequently selfish. In many ways, Menez is Mario Balotelli: good at penalties, even better on form but too frustrating to truly evaluate. Menez could and should have scored more than just the single goal against Napoli. If Milan were not so tight defensively, the misses would have counted for more.

Luckily, another midfielder turned attacker, Giacomo Bonaventura, cushioned the lead. With a little more freedom in the attack, Bonaventura was able to score his third goal of the year. 

Milan have one more game before the end of the year. They could enter the winter break in third place. That is the goal, and the fact that they are this close is encouraging.

And just like that they’re back in the Champions League race.